CB Shawn Springs (calf) was back at practice yesterday and said he plans to play tomorrow against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium.

"It's better," Springs said. "I think I'm playing."

The 12-year veteran has played in only three of the past nine games because of the calf injury he suffered during the second half of a 26-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 28. Springs, who also sat out the season-opening loss to the New York Giants because of a shin injury, said his calf responded well in practice.

Washington (7-6) is 4-2 when Springs plays. Considered the Redskins' best defender in press-man coverage, Springs could have a significant role against the Bengals (1-11-1) because T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson are the type of big wide receivers he enjoys facing.

"They're a little better than decent," Redskins Coach Jim Zorn said of Houshmandzadeh and Johnson. "I know that if Shawn Springs can go, he's going to be out there.

"What I saw out there [at practice], he'll go. But it will all be on how he feels. If it swells again, that's the problem. It has been swelling on him. There's still an injury in there. He's not a hundred percent, and this is not game-like conditions."

· OTHER INJURIES: Rookie S Chris Horton (shoulder) was held out of practice again and is not expected to play. If Horton does not play, Mike Green would start in place of Horton, Zorn said.

"It's just one of those things," said Horton, the Redskins' third-leading tackler. "I'm preparing myself even though I'm not getting all the physical reps out there. I'm definitely taking a lot of mental reps." . . .